BILL NUMBER: S758
SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to doula access
during emergency situations
 
PURPOSE:
This is a chapter amendment that makes changes to L.2024, c.550, to
clarify provisions related to allowing a birthing person to designate a
doula to access them upon admission to a hospital or freestanding birth-
ing center for care and prohibiting these facilities from denying a
birthing person access to their designated doula.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill amends the underlying chapter to clarify that a maternal
health care facility is not required to grant the doula access during
emergency situations or when the access could compromise the safety of
the patient or health care team.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Chapter amendment to Chapter 550 of the Laws of 2024. S.5992-A and
A.6168-A both passed the Senate and Assembly during the 2024 Legislative
Session.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a
chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the Public Health Law relating to
permitting expecting and new mothers' access to their doulas, as
proposed in legislative bills numbers S.5992-A and A.6168-A, takes
effect.